Structural toy and model building set



Nov. 25, 1958 G. r-1\v.\RETrcJ STRUCTURAL TOY AND MODEL BUILDING SETFiled Aug. 12, 1952 FIG. 4.

United States Patent O STRUCTURAL TOY AND MODEL BUILDING SETGianniFavaretto, Bergamo, Italy Application August 12, 1952, Serial No.303,849

Claims priority, application Italy August 14, 1951 9 claims. (c1.t6-16.)

This invention relates to devices comprising a set of structuralelements adapted to be connected together 4by means of projections onand sockets in said elements, in order to build toys and models. 4

A chief object of this invention is to provide elements of very lightweight, capable of rm reciprocal connection by engagement over thewidest possible surface with respect to the cross section of theelements.

According to this invention a set of structural elements for buildingtoys and models, comprises prismatic hollow blocks provided with atleast one projection on one side, adapted to penetrate into the bore inthe adjacent element, said projection being hollow and of squaresection.

The invention shall be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a single element;

Figures 2 and 3 are a longitudinal section and perspective view,respectively, of a double element;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a triple corner element;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a double auxiliary element;

Figure 6 shows a modification of Figure 3;

Figure 7 shows a modification of Figure 1;

Figure 8 shows a modification of Figure 7 with a lateral extension;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a simple auxiliary element having twolateral extensions;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an element according to Figure l,having two lateral extensions;

Figure 1l shows a modification of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of an element according to Figure 3,provided with two lateral extensions;

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a corner structure built bymeans of elements according to Figure 3;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a corner structure built by means ofmodifications of the elements shown in Figures l, 3 and 4;

Figures 15 and 16 are plan views showing two courses of elements forbuilding a T-structure;

Figure 17 is a sectional view showing a structure composed of thepreviously illustrated elements;

Figure 18 is a vertical section showing a box and cover;

Figure 19 is a part sectional view of a panel.

The fundamental structural element shown in Figure l consists of a blockB of prismatic shape, formed with an inner bore of square section, opentowards the outside at two opposed block faces. At one of the open facesthe block B is formed with a hollow extension A of square section,smaller in height than the block B and of a cross sectional area such asto permit a tight iit into the bore inthe block B of an adjacent elementof the set.

The double element shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprises a block B formedwith two -bores with parallel axes and two corresponding hollowprojections A.

The triple corner element shown in Figure 4 comprises a block B' formedwith three bores having parallel axes and three corresponding hollowprojections A' of square section.

"ice

The auxiliary element shown in Figure 5 is similar to the element shownin Figure 3, but is deprived of projec-v tions A. lts bottom can beclosed, if desired.

The elements shown in Figures 6 and 7 are similar to those shown inFigures l and 3, but are formed with a wall C greater in thickness whichpermits of building panels provided with protruding portions.

The elements shown in Figures 8 to l2 serve for connecting in thevarious directions further similar contiguous elements and are formedfor this purpose with projections D of U-section, extendingperpendicular to the common axis of the bores in the block B andprojection A.

Figure 13 clearly shows the manner of building by means of elements ofthe type shown in Figure 3 only, walls, for instance of building models,with staggered joints between the elements. Figure 14 shows the mannerof forming re-entering portions in the walls by utilizing elementsformed with walls C of greater thickness.

Figures l5 and 16 show the manner of connecting the elements in thesecond course with staggered joints by utilizing elements of the typereferred to by 4 in Figure 16.

In Figure 17, 5 denotes the element shown in Figure 5. It will beobvious that, since its projections A are shorter than the height of theelement B, two projections A can be iitted from opposite sides into oneand the same element 5.

The box shown in Figure 18 comprises a base panel obtained from elementsas shown in Figures 1 and 5, lower edges obtained from elements 12 asshown in Figure 12, side walls obtained from elements according toFigure 1 and an inner bead on said side walls obtained by fittingelements 6 according to Figure 6. The cover abutting said bead is formedfrom elements according to Figure l, elements 3 according to Figure 3and an element 5 which is utilized as a handle for the cover.

In Figure 19, D denotes a wire or band -serving for additionallyconnecting together the elements as shown in Figure 2 to form a panel.

From the preceding description it will be understood that, the bore inthe block B being wide enough to leave only a lateral block wall ofsmall thickness, the block is extremely light in weight-with respect toblocks proposed heretofore. Moreover, the square cross sectional shapeof the hollow projections A prevents reciprocal rotation of theinterlocked elements.

The above described elements are conveniently made by injection mouldingfrom plastic material and can be of any desired color, transparent ortranslucid.

They can be employed for building a large variety of structures for useeither as toys, architectural models or the like.

What I claim is:

l. A set of structural members adapted to be connected by means ofprojections and recesses for forming various disassemblable articles,including a plurality of elements each of which comprises a hollowprismatic body having two opposed parallel base faces and an even numberof side walls each situated at right angles with respect to the saidbase faces and the adjacent side walls, the body being provided with atleast one recess which is square in section and extends from one baseface within the body with its axis perpendicular to the said base faceand which has at least two of its walls formed by the side walls of thesaid body and an open-ended tubular projection extending from the otherbase face of the body coaxially with each said recess, said projectionbeing square in cross section and of a size to tit the recess in asimilar superposed element, the inside of veach said tubular projectioncommunicating with the corresponding recess in the body and saidprojection having a height in an axial direction substantially greaterthan half the height of said body, said members Ibeing assemblableinto acontinuous wall structure by interengaging the members of one course ofthe wall structure in staggered relationship with respect to the membersof the subjacent and sup'erposedv courses to define a plurality ofhollow columns extending vertically through the wall structure forreception of tie means extending upwardly through one column anddownwardly through the next adjacent column and overlying the end edgesof the members at the top and at the bottom of -the wall structure tohold said wall structure as a'n inseparable u'nit resistant toaccidental disassembly.

2. A set of structural members as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelementsinclude one or'm'o're elements each having the form of a right'angled bodywith. three equal recesses and three equal projections solocated on opposite base faces of the body that the whole element issymmetrical with respect to a plane bisecting the angle between the twobranches of the body.

3. A set of structural members as claimed in claim l, wherein saidelements include one or more elements each having on one of the sidewalls of the body thereof at least o-ne U-shaped projection that isAsquare in section and adapted to fit the recesses in the bodies of theother elements of the set, said projection having an open side facing inthe direction ofY one ofv said base faces.

4. A set of structural members as claimedl in claim 1, wherein saidelements include one or more elements each having on two opposed sidewalls of the body at -least one U-shaped projection that is square insection and adapted to t the recesses in the bodies of the' other'elements of the set, said projection having an open side facing in thedirection of one of said base faces.

5. A set of structural members as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelements include one or more-elements each having a body that is squarein cross section and that isl provided with one recess and oneprojection, th'e common axis of which is aligned with the axis of thebody.

6. A set of structural members as claimed inclaim 1, wherein saidelements include one or' 'more elements each having a body that isrectangular in cross section and that has a plurality of alignedrecesses andprojections respectively of the same size and having theiraxes lying in the central longitudinal plane of the element.

7. A set of structural members adapted to bevc'on# nected by means ofprojections and recesses for forming various disassemblable articles,including a plurality of elements each of which comprises a hollowprismatic body having two opposed parallel base faces and an even numberof side walls each situated at right angles with respect to the saidbase faces and the adjacent side walls, the body being provided with atleast one recess which is square in section and extends from one baseface within the body with its axis perpendicular to the said base faceand which has at least two of its walls formed by the side walls of' thesaid body and an open-ended tubular projection extending from the otherbase .face of the body coaxially with each said recess, said projection'being square in cross section and of a size to fit the recess in asimilar superposed element, the inside of each said tubular projectioncommunicating with the corresponding recess in the body and saidprojection having a height in an axial direction substantially greaterthan half the height of said body, said elements including at least oneelement having the form of a right angled body with three equal recessesand three equal projections so located on 4, opposite base-faces of thebody that the wholeelement is symmetrical with respect-to a planebisecting the angle between the two bran-ches of the body, at least oneof said elements having the axes of the aligned recesses and projectionslying nearer to the inner angular wall of the element than to its outerangular wall.

8. A set of structural members adapted to be connected' by means ofprojections and recesses for forming various disassemblable articles,including a-. plurality of elements each of which comprises a hollowprismatic body having two opposed parallel base faces and an even numberof side walls each situated at right angles with respect to the saidbase faces and the adjacent side walls, the body being provided with atleast one recess which is square in section and extends from one baseface within the body with its axis perpendicular to the said base faceand which has at least two of its walls formed by the side walls of thesaid body and an openfended tubular projection extending from the otherbase face of the body coaxially with each said recess, said projectionbeing square in cross section and of a size to-iit the recess in asimilar superposed element, the inside of each said tubular projectioncommunicating with the corresponding recess in the body and saidprojection having a height in an axial direction substantially greaterthan half the height of. said body, said. elements` including at leastone element having a body that is square in cross section and isprovided with one recess and one4 projectionthe common axissofwhichisoffsetfrom thevaxis of the body.

A9. A. set of -structural members .adapted to be connected by means ofprojections and-recesses for forming various-disassembiable articles,including a plurality of elements veach` of which comprises a hollowprismatic body having two Vopposed parallel base faces and an evennumber of side walls each-situated at right angles with respect to thesaid base -faces and the adjacent side walls, the body being providedwith at least one recess which is square in section and extends from onebase facewithin the body with its axis perpendicularto the saidbase faceand which has at least two of its walls formed vby the side walls of thesaid body and an open-ended tubular projection extending from the otherbase face of the body coaxially with each saidrrecess, said projectionbeing square in cross section and of a size to t the recess in a similarsuperpo-sed element, the inside of each said tubular projectioncommunicating with the corresponding recess in the body and saidprojection having a height in an axial direction substantially greaterthan half the height of said body, said elements including at least oneelement having a 'body that is rectangular in crc-ss section and has aplurality of aligned recesses and projections of thesame size and havingtheir axes offset from the central longitudinal plane of the element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS301,158 Ravenscroft July l, 1884 2,493,435 Archambault Ian. 3, 19502,610,503 Hall Sept. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,453 Great Britain Oct.25, 1917 365,369 Great Britain Jan. 3l, 1932 633,055 Great Britain cDec. 12, 1949 897,397 France May 22, 1944 656,246 Great Britain Aug. 15,1951

